PFC Every 3 - A Sustainable Weight Loss Strategy or Another Trendy Diet?
At O2 Living, we're pretty familiar with trends in health and wellness, and we love to stay up-to-date on the newest health and wellness crazes. When we started hearing about "PFC Every 3" as a weight loss strategy that had side effects like improved energy, better workouts, and a healthy feeling all over, we decided to look into this strategy for ourselves!
What is PFC Every 3?
PFC stands for protein, fats and carbs, and "every 3" means that you consume a balance of all 3 every 3 hours. The program was created by NY Times Best Selling author and mastermind behind the Venice Nutrition Program, Mark Macdonald.
When explaining PFC Every 3, Macdonald said, "eating protein positively affects your blood sugar hormone glucagon (raises your blood sugar), eating carbs affects your blood sugar hormone insulin (lowers your blood sugar), and eating fat slows down the rate of digestion by inhibiting the release of HCL (your stomach's acid). The combination of the three nutrients in the right portion sizes and intervals keeps your blood sugar balanced."
The science behind the weight loss strategy is in keeping blood sugar balanced. Macdonald argues that eating PFC every 3 will force your body to use your stored fat for energy, turning you into a fat-burning machine! Another perk to PFC Every 3 is that you don't have to count macros or calories, you simply just need to listen to your body and eat when you're neither hungry nor full, simply in between.
...but does it work?
Overall, PFC Every 3 recommends eating a balanced diet, with some slight modifications. While many nutritionists will recommend eating every 3-4 hours for optimal weight loss, the balance of 1/3 of your plate being carbs may be too high for many. Additionally, 1/3 of the diet dedicated to fats may be a bit higher than the average diet.
The USDA recommends a similar split for a balanced diet, but in its MyPlate recommendations suggests splitting your plate into: half fruits and veggies (2/3 veggies, 1/3 fruits) focusing on whole fruits and a variety of veggies, 1/4 whole grains, and 1/4 protein.
As every body and person is different, what works for one person may not for another. If you think your body may respond well to PFC Every 3 and you'd like to give it a try, you should! Remember there is no one-size-fits-all weight loss strategy for everyone.
At O2 Living and Living Juice, we value health and wellness - that's why our cold-pressed juices are always organic, with nothing added - no sugar, no water, no preservatives - just fresh and whole fruits and vegetables.